Three honored with Young Alumni Award
September 28, 2022
By CHRIS KNUDSON ’01 | Photos JULIE PAGEL DREWES ’90 and SUBMITTED
The Young Alumni Award honors graduates from the past 15 years who are living the four pillars of the Wartburg College mission statement: leadership, service, faith, and learning. This year’s recipients are:
Dr. Nnamdi Nelson ’12
Emeryville, Calif.
Driven by the desire to help people in need, Nnamdi Nelson began his academic journey as a pre-med major. He spent the summer of his junior year at Wartburg West working as a research assistant at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. It was during this period that Nelson discovered his passion for biomedical research.
After graduating, Nelson worked at Integrated DNA Technologies synthesizing reagents used for genomic research. He was quickly drawn to biomedical research at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, where he worked on projects designed to understand the causes and treatments for a new form of eye disease.
Nelson earned his doctorate in neuroscience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During that time, his work as a science outreach leader for the Education Justice Project brought science classes to incarcerated teenagers at the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center.
Nelson was a technology analyst at the University of California San Francisco Innovation Ventures office and served on the leadership team of Biotech Connection – Bay Area, a nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the next generation of biotech leaders. As the vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Nelson led efforts to improve the diversity of trainees and clients that work with BCBA.
Nelson recently joined Northwestern University’s Innovation and New Ventures Office. He manages a portfolio of cutting-edge life science technologies developed by students and researchers and works to expedite the development of the technologies into useful products that benefit society. He also supports numerous programs aimed to increase the number of female and minority inventors and entrepreneurs at Northwestern University.
His nominators described his leadership and strong work ethic coming from a “servant heart.” In particular, they mentioned his desire to work with students who struggle to learn. His supportive demeanor and genuine interest in their success, while also holding them accountable, has allowed him to develop positive relationships with all the students he teaches and mentors.
Tjeerdsma and his wife, Julia, are active members of Second Reformed Church of Pella and have three children. He has served as a deacon and led service/mission trips to Haiti and New Mexico through his church.
Jenna Manders ’15
Dubuque, Iowa
Dedication to service and philanthropy were hallmarks of Jenna Manders’ experience as a Wartburg student. Years later, her journey has provided new opportunities to educate others about the importance of philanthropy and helping others in need.
As a Wartburg student, she served as an intern with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. After graduating magna cum laude in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and sociology, she returned to the foundation as a full-time employee. In her six years with the foundation, she held a number of roles and received several promotions.
“I have never met a young professional with as much ambition and drive to succeed as Jenna,” wrote nominator Amy Unmacht.
Today, Manders serves as the community foundation services coordinator for the Iowa Council on Foundations. In this role she is the point of contact for Iowa community foundations, helping answer questions about Endow Iowa and the County Endowment Fund. She also supports data collection and reporting, oversees three grant programs, and supports conference and event development and implementation.
This change of pace has allowed her to devote more time to her family and community in other ways. She owns a liquidation business with her two brothers. The three also have converted a vacant convent into 10 apartment units and are working to add nearly 20 more in the Catholic school next door.
In her free time, Manders’ dedication to supporting excellence in community foundations inspires her to work as a National Standards reviewer, where she reviews and assesses community foundations for accreditation.
Scott Tjeerdsma ’07
Pella, Iowa
As an advocate for children of all ages, Scott Tjeerdsma’s dedication and growth mind-set has led to great success as a teacher and coach.
Since his graduation from Wartburg, he has served the Pella Community School District in various capacities. He began his career with the district teaching fourth grade before switching to seventh-grade math. Tjeerdsma completed his master’s degree in educational leadership at Viterbo University in 2015 while teaching full time and is currently pursuing additional coursework in an athletic director program at Morningside College. He now serves as the middle school’s athletic director and dean of students.
Tjeerdsma is an active volunteer in his community. He directed and founded the Pella Track Club for elementary and middle school students, serves on the leadership team of the Leader in Me program, and volunteers on the board for the Klompen Classic, a fundraiser for a program that provides support services to community members in need.
His nominators described his leadership and strong work ethic coming from a “servant heart.” In particular, they mentioned his desire to work with students who struggle to learn. His supportive demeanor and genuine interest in their success, while also holding them accountable, has allowed him to develop positive relationships with all the students he teaches and mentors.
Tjeerdsma and his wife, Julia, are active members of Second Reformed Church of Pella and have three children. He has served as a deacon and led service/mission trips to Haiti and New Mexico through his church.